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  3. VOXL2 J2 5VDC Fan Control overcurrent

VOXL2 J2 5VDC Fan Control overcurrent

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  • H Offline
    H Offline
    hmlow
    Regular
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Hi devs

    What would happen if i sink more than 400mA on the FAN RETURN pin of J2?

    Would i destroy anything on the board?

    VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • H hmlow

      Hi devs

      What would happen if i sink more than 400mA on the FAN RETURN pin of J2?

      Would i destroy anything on the board?

      VinnyV Offline
      VinnyV Offline
      Vinny
      ModalAI Team
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      @hmlow
      Yes, you can damage components in the control circuit, then the fan would no longer operate.
      The fan we sell is rated for 110mA. You should not need much more than that anyway to have effective cooling.

      H 1 Reply Last reply
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      • VinnyV Vinny

        @hmlow
        Yes, you can damage components in the control circuit, then the fan would no longer operate.
        The fan we sell is rated for 110mA. You should not need much more than that anyway to have effective cooling.

        H Offline
        H Offline
        hmlow
        Regular
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        @Vinny nah I'm trying to use J2 for smth else. Probably won't draw anything more than 250mA but I just wanted to be sure about what's connected to those pins

        VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
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        • H hmlow

          @Vinny nah I'm trying to use J2 for smth else. Probably won't draw anything more than 250mA but I just wanted to be sure about what's connected to those pins

          VinnyV Offline
          VinnyV Offline
          Vinny
          ModalAI Team
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          @hmlow Please be aware that the fan circuit at the connector uses a switched ground technique with series resistor for monitoring fan speed/tach. The more current you use, the higher the ground offset you'll have. We have not validated that port with anything other than a fan. Using for anything else is at your own risk.

          H 1 Reply Last reply
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          • VinnyV Vinny

            @hmlow Please be aware that the fan circuit at the connector uses a switched ground technique with series resistor for monitoring fan speed/tach. The more current you use, the higher the ground offset you'll have. We have not validated that port with anything other than a fan. Using for anything else is at your own risk.

            H Offline
            H Offline
            hmlow
            Regular
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            @Vinny may I know what is the value of that series resistor?

            I'm using this to power a LED flashlight (only to fully turn on and off, nothing in between). I already have a current limiting resistor for the LED array, but I guess I have to factor in the one that is built directly onto the VOXL2 as well

            VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
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            • H hmlow

              @Vinny may I know what is the value of that series resistor?

              I'm using this to power a LED flashlight (only to fully turn on and off, nothing in between). I already have a current limiting resistor for the LED array, but I guess I have to factor in the one that is built directly onto the VOXL2 as well

              VinnyV Offline
              VinnyV Offline
              Vinny
              ModalAI Team
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Sure @hmlow
              here is a schematic snippet of that section so you have all the info:
              7c56d0e9-6cd1-488e-9b30-a189e04b455a-image.png

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